HUMAN remains, thought to be from medieval times, have been unearthed near Durham Cathedral.

Archaeologists and contractors discovered the bones while working on the redevelopment of Durham University’s Palace Green Library, which was home to the Lindisfarne Gospels this summer.

The project has now been halted, while permission is sought from the Ministry of Justice to carry out a full excavation.

The find includes parts of four skulls, plus other human remains.

Richard Annis, a senior archaeologist at Durham University, said: “It’s too early to say what the bones are but we think they are from the medieval era.

“It is possible they were originally buried in the Cathedral graveyard.

“The original boundaries of that graveyard have moved as Palace Green has developed over the centuries.

“The history of this whole area is fascinating as it was once enclosed in the original Durham Castle walls, which stretched around the whole top of the Durham City peninsula.

“Further investigation should be able to date the remains to help establish what they are and where they came from.”

By law, the bones must eventually be reinterred at an approved burial site.